Coach Cooper

Martin St. Louis

Steven Stamkos

Assistant Coach Lacroix

Martin St. Louis

Steven Stamkos

When: Thursday, March 7, 2013

Time: 6:30 p.m. CST

Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa Bay,Florida

Records: Winnipeg Jets (10-11-1 – 10th in East), Tampa Bay Lightning (10-12-1 – 11th in East)

Television/Radio: TSN-JETS, SUN/ TSN 1290

The Story: The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to stop a two game losing skid as they continue their trip through Del Boca Vista country tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Jets lost 4-1 to the Florida Panthers Tuesday night, in a pretty laissez-faire contest.  They needed to show that they could take it to the next level against an opponent, especially a division rival, and failed to do so. Coach Claude Noel was understandably upset after Tuesday’s game and you can bet he will have his troops ready for battle tonight against a Bolts team coming off a big victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Today’s game is the second of four meetings between the Jets and Lightning this year. The two teams will meet next in Winnipeg on Sunday, March 24th (7:00 p.m. CST). The fourth and final meeting of the season is in Winnipeg on Tuesday, April 16th (7:00 p.m. CST).

Follow @IllegalCurve on Twitter leading up to tonight’s game.

Projected Jets line combinations (According to Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press):

Goalie:

Al Montoya

Forwards:

1st: Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Blake Wheeler

2nd:  Evander Kane-Olli Jokinen- Alexander Burmistrov

3rd:  James Wright–Nikolai Antropov – Antti Miettinen

4th:  Eric Tangradi- Jim Slater - Kyle Wellwood

Defence:

Ron Hainsey- Zach Bogosian

Dustin Byfuglien- Grant Clitsome

Paul Postma- Mark Stuart

Offensive Leaders:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos (17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points), Martin St. Louis (6 goals, 24 assists, 30 points), Teddy Purcell (4 goals, 17 assists, 21 points).

Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points), Evander Kane (9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points), Blake Wheeler (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points).

Injury Report:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Benoit Pouliot (upper body), Ryan Malone (lower body), Mathieu Garon (lower body)

Winnipeg Jets:  Tobias Enstrom (shoulder) and Zach Redmond (leg)

Who’s Next: After tonight’s game, the Jets head back to play Florida Panthers on Friday, March 8th (6:30 p.m.) in a back-to-back.  They finish off the road trip with a quick trip up to New Jersey on Sunday, March 10th (6:00 p.m.)

Teddy Purcell

Steven Stamkos

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

The following analysis was taken from the show.

Columbus receives: Jack Johnson, a conditional first round pick

Los Angeles Receives: Jeff Carter

Tale of the tape:

Jack Johnson: age 25, under contract until 2017-18 at a cap hit of $4.35 million per season.

Jeff Carter: age 27, under contract until 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5.27 million per season.

This is a trade that must be looked at through two different perspectives. The first is looking at the trade as a single trade. The second view is to look at it on a whole, meaning, Columbus effectively traded Jakub Voracek and the 8^th overall pick (Sean Couturier).

Off the ice, the reasons for trading Carter were about his contract, and his character, says Illegal Curve Hockey Show analyst Richard Pollock:

“I don’t think Columbus did as badly as I thought they would have, because there was no market for Jeff Carter. It was restricted by the fact he has ten years left on his deal, which restricted him to a couple of teams, and other teams were concerned about his character.”

“The market for him was very small, the fact they were able to get the first round pick, and Jack Johnson, who’s game I have concerns about, but does have potential, was fine work by GM Scott Howson on an evaluation of just this trade. If they can nail the draft pick, they can make it look like an all around good deal.”

“Jeff Carter is a good skater, a good stickhandler, he’s got a terrific shot, he can distribute the puck, but he’s not great at it. He’s good defensively, he can play in all situations, he’s an all around really good player.”

Host of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show Drew Mindell added, “he’s a regular 30 goal scorer, which doesn’t ocme easily.”

Pollock continued on Jack Johnson saying, “he’s as good of a skater as Zach Bogosian, good slapshot, good offensive talent, can join the rush. His hockey sense and defensive awareness leave much to be desired.”

In terms of contracts, Johnson’s is more favourable to Carter’s, as it is for less years and money, he is also younger, and defenseman tend to peak at a later age.

Pollock was not in favour of the deal overall, and would not pick a winner. It was a move of desperation for both teams.

Columbus receives: 2^nd round pick in 2012, conditional 5^th in 2013 and Curtis McElhinney

Phoenix receives: Antoine Vermette (age 29, under contract until 2014-15 at a cap hit of $3.75 million per season)

Off the ice: It is interesting to note that this is a salary dump by Columbus, who is assuredly losing money this season, to the NHL owned Phoenix Coyotes.

Antoine Vermette is a limited player offensively, he skates well, and can handle the puck, but is not a point producer (27 points in 62 games this season). Vermette is a player who is better defensively than offensively.

Columbus is shedding a bad contract, at $3.75 million with three years remaining is a lot for a guy who is not a point producer. The value that they are receiving in this deal is in the 2^nd round pick, as well as the removal of his contract on the salary cap. The Blue Jackets can fill the hole left by Vermette with players such as RJ Umberger, Derick Brassard and the return they get for Rick Nash (assuming he is traded before next season).

Curtis McElhinney is a throw in, a back up goalie who’s been injured all year. He is not the answer for Columbus’ goaltending situation.

From a Phoenix perspective, they are getting a player who fits well into their system. Phoenix loads up on veterans who buy into their boring trap style system. Vermette’s speed can create pressure on the opposition and he can play in all situations. He is a “tweener” a 2^nd or 3^rd line player, and on the Coyotes squad he will play a bigger role. He fits the veteran defensively responsible type player that coach Dave Tippett wants.

This is a good move for both teams.

New Jersey Receives: Marek Zidlicky (age 35, cap hit of $4 million until 2012-13)

Minnesota Receives: Kurtis Foster, Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux, a 2^nd round pick In 2012, a conditional 3^rd round pick in 2013 (if New Jersey makes the conference finals this season or next).

New Jersey is filling a need by getting an offensively talented defenseman who can skate and move the puck. From watching New Jersey this season, it is easy to tell they are missing an offensive defenseman. Players such as Anton Volchenkov, Henrik Tallinder and Bryce Salvador are defensive types who can block shots and hit. They did not have a guy with the ability to lead the power play and move the puck out of the defensive zone well enough.

Zidlicky should have no problem fitting into the dressing room with fellow countrymen Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias. He’s signed for next season at $4 million, which is a lot, but offensive defenseman like Zidlicky don’t grow on trees.

Minnesota was in a situation where they were not playing Zidlicky, and he fell out of favor with Coach Mike Yeo.  They receive ex-Wild Kurtis Foster who’s contract comes off the books next season, he is a big body who can chip in with his point shot.

Stephane Veilleux , also an ex-Wild is 13^th forward and his contract expires after the season.

Nick Palmieri has the potential to be a 3^rd or 4^th line player for Minnesota.

Comparing the deal to the Hal Gill deal, the Predators gave up a 2^nd round pick and Blake Geoffrion for Hal Gill. Because the Foster and Veilleux contracts expire at the end of the season, the Devils gave up Nick Palmieri and a 2^nd round pick. If they do reach the conference finals, they will be happy to relinquish the 3^rd round pick.

This is an even trade for both teams.

Colorado receives: Steve Downie

Tampa Bay receives: 1^st round pick from Detroit.

Detroit receives: Kyle Quincey

While this was two separate trades by Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman, it should be looked at as one move.

The trades Yzerman has made leading up to the deadline show that the former Detroit Red Wing is ascending up the ranks as one of the top GMs in the NHL.  He is aware that his team is not a Stanley Cup Contender this season and is selling off assets in order to build for the future. As of February 26, 2012, Tampa Bay now has six picks in the first two rounds of the 2012 draft.  The net result of this trade is that Tampa Bay receives Detroit’s first round pick in exchange for Steve Downie.

Detroit adds depth to their defense in Kyle Quincey. Quincey who was drafted by Detroit in 2003 is a player who skate well, can move the puck, but isn’t the most physical. He is brought in to play the 3^rd defense pairing with Jonathan Ericsson, which should take some pressure off of rookie Jakub Kindl. He  fits into Detroit’s system,  and will be an RFA after this season so they will be able to retain him.

Colorado receives Steve Downie who gives their team some much added toughness. He’s a player who can get in your face, go to the net, hit, and move around in the lineup. While he doesn’t have great hands, he can provide 10-15 goals and 30-35 points. Ideally, he’s a 3^rd line right winger. Downey will be an RFA after this season.

A reasonable deal for all sides.

Philadelphia receives: Pavel Kubina

Tampa Bay receives: Jon Kalinski, 2^nd round pick in 2012 or 2013, 4^th round pick in 2013.

This is a depth acquisition by Philadelphia, which may not have been completely necessary, but he is a big body who fits in well with the Flyers team.

Steve Yzerman is stockpiling picks and building for the future.

The bottom line: An even deal.

Florida receives: Jerrod Smithson (age 33, under contract until 2012-13 for $800,000)

Nashville receives: 6^th round draft pick in 2012

Jerrod Smithson is a 4^th line centre who is better than incumbent John Madden. He is a depth acquisition, whose skill lies in winning draws, playing a defensively responsible and killing penalties. Smithson won’t be counted on to provide offense.

Nashville is a well run club and if hey are giving away players for 6^th round picks, this means they have no use for Smithson. His $800,000 salary will come off the books for next season, making this a quasi-salary dump. The Predators are looking to make a run for the cup this season, the trade also opens up a roster spot for additional moves.

This isn’t a significant move, that shouldn’t be overrated.

Tune in to TSN 1290 all day on trade deadline Monday for round the clock coverage. Drew Mindell and Richard Pollock of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show will be on from 12pm-4pm breaking down all the trades, as well as previewing the Winnipeg Jets contest against the Edmonton Oilers.

Martin St. Louis

Coach Boucher

Victor Hedman

Ryan Malone

Steven Stamkos

Coach Boucher

Coach Boucher

Martin St. Louis

Eric Brewer

Steve Stamkos

Dwayne Roloson

As found at art.com

The Tampa Bay Lightning had a miserable 2008-09 campaign, finishing second to last just in front of the equally woeful New York Islanders. With an anemic 24 wins and 66 points, the one-dimensional Lightning were not scaring anyone.

General Manager Brian Lawton has performed very well over the summer, scoring the highly touted Victor Hedman with the 2nd overall pick in this June’s entry draft, and picking up a second first-rounder in Carter Ashton with the 29th pick. Lawton also signed a number of NHL veterans, most notably Alex Tanguay and Mattias Ohlund, to respectable deals. In making these signings, Lawton has transformed the Lightning from a one-line team into a well balanced squad with decent depth at all positions.

The additions the Lightning made should help them be, at the very least, competitive in the South-east division. With a very strong Washington team and the perennially overlooked Hurricanes to contend with, the Lightning will likely be hard pressed to win the division. That being said, if they get a few bounces and the team gels quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they at least put a scare into their foes down the stretch. The team went through a ton of skaters last season, and having a roster that is more or less set should really help in 2009-10. Lawton (pictured to the left in a tbo.com shot) has shown an aptitude for making the team better, and could find himself in a position to be a buyer at the deadline. Lets take a closer look at the team that will likely start the year in Tampa.

The Forwards:

As found at zimbio.com

The Lightning are led by a couple of all-stars in Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Lecavalier has finally matured into the player he was touted as when he was drafted first overall, and St. Louis has made Tampa his team after bouncing between the NHL and the minors for several years. The Lightning also signed Alex Tanguay to a one-year deal this off-season, and he will provided immediate depth to the Lightning’s offensive arsenal.

Past these big three, the Lightning can also throw Ryan Malone and Steven Stamkos over the boards, thus forming the nucleus of a very strong top-6. Though it is unclear as of press time who the extra forward will be, coach Rick Tocchet does have several other players to choose from, including newly acquired Stephane Veilleux and the kinder and gentler Steve Downie.

Rounding out the forwards corps are: Adam Hall, Drew Miller, Jeff Halpern, Ryan Craig, Todd Fedoruk, Zenon Konopka,  and the newly signed Jamie Wright, who was very impressive throughout camp and in pre-season action. How the lines will shake out is yet to be determined, as the Lightning will likely finalize matters tonight in Atlanta. I would imagine they should shake out something like this:

Tanguay-Lecavalier-Downie

Malone-Stamkos-St. Louis

Veilleux-Halpern-Miller

Fedoruk-Craig-Hall

That would leave Wright and Konopka in the press box, should both stick around. The top unit of Lecavalier and Tanguay seems pretty well set in stone. They have developed excellent chemistry already and were lethal on the powerplay in my one viewing of the team. Finding a full-time right winger could be an issue here, but former bad boy Steve Downie has been well behaved all camp and has shown a willingness to play tough. With him riding shotgun, the two offensive stars should have plenty of room to operate.

The second line of Stamkos centering St. Louis and Malone appears just as lethal. An equally nice blend of size and finesses, this unit really provides a 1A option for the Bolts. Stamkos came into his own in the second half of last season as he started to assert his offensive talent. St. Louis looks to be re-energized by the new personnel and should have a good start as he looks to secure a spot on Team Canada. Malone is a good compliment here, as he adds some much needed sandpaper to the unit. Lets not forget though that he can also score when he wants to, thus providing Coach Tocchet with some wiggle room when other teams attempt to hard match lines.

The Bolts third line will be the key to their season, in my opinion. Last year, without a true shut down line, the Lightning had a hard time stopping other squads top guys. Veilleux is a bona-fide shut down guy that can chip in with some timely offense, and is a tough guy to play against. Paired with Halpern and the speedy Miller, this line should provide the Bolts and their coaching staff some reliable shut down minutes to give the top two lines a break. Though Miller might find himself a spot on the top unit as their right-winger, his speed and versatility will come in handy on this line.

The 4th line is a little bit of a superfluous situation, with Jamie Wright seemingly having made the team. Todd Fedoruk is the most likely left-winger, as he provides the team with an enforcer/banger that can skate with the team. Veteran Ryan Craig is the de facto choice as pivot on this unit, but newcomer Wright would look alright in that role as well. Adam Hall, one of the few natural right-wingers on this team, is the most obvious choice to round out the unit, but he too could find himself moved up the depth chart. Keep in mind that this configuration could end up being wildly different depending on how Tocchet wants this unit to perform. They are most likely destined to be an energy bunch, but should the team need some more offense, they could be composed of some guys that could outscore in a soft minutes role.

All told, this is a vastly improved group from last year. It has depth, balance and size and should be more than enough to compete on a nightly basis. Watch for Rick Tocchet and Co. to get the most out of this group.

The Defense:

Courtesy of fromtherink.ca

The Bolts defense also received a significant upgrade over the summer. Veteran Mathias Ohlund was signed to a long term deal to provide stability and a mentor to Victor Hedman. Kurtis Foster was also signed, and the bruiser Matt Walker was added to the fold from Chicago.

Of course the most hyped addition has been 2nd overall pick Victor Hedman, who has looked quite good in pre-season action. Hedman (pictured), who has been playing pro hockey in Sweden for a couple of season, seems physically and mentally mature enough to step in and compete immediately. He will likely line up on the 2nd pairing with Kurtis Foster on a unit that will be counted on to provide some offensive pop for the Tampa Bay team.

The aforementioned Ohlund should skate with Andrej Meszaros on the top unit, combining a healthy dose of size with some limited offensive upside. Both big men, the pair will have to provide Tampa with some reliable shut down minutes, as they should see the bulk of the work against the stars of the league. In addition to their top line minutes, these two should also see a lot of work on the power-play (2nd unit), where Meszaros’ big shot will be a useful tool to keep opposing penalty killers honest.

Rounding out the top-6 are Paul Ranger and Matt Walker. Ranger is thought to be nearly recovered from injury and should be ready to go soon (I believe he will play tonight versus Atlanta). Though Ranger was once a threat on the powerplay, his shoulder injury and the new talent has pushed him into this bottom pairing role. Walker, a right handed shot, will be counted on to provide the no-frills style he displayed in Chicago. Not a huge offensive threat, he still makes a good first past and is very responsible in his own end.

To recap, the pairings should go as follows:

Ohlund-Meszaros

Foster-Hedman

Ranger-Walker (sounds like a tv show)

The extras on the point are likely Lukas Krajicek and Matt Smaby, though I would expect both see at least spot duty this season. As with the forwards, this is a much improved group that will provide a big boost to the Tampa forwards and netminders.

The Goalies:

Tampa, true to form, had some movement in the crease over the summer. One-time goalie of the future Kari Ramo bolted for the KHL, and former Flyer Antero Niittymaki was brought in to compete for the top job with Mike Smith. While Smith is still the likely starter, I would imagine he spends most of the year looking over his shoulder. For the coaches, it will be nice to have a little stability in net, as the Lightning have had something of a revolving door for goalies the last couple of seasons.

Courtesy of goaliecards.net

It should be a slightly easier season for whichever netminder gets the call in Tampa, due to a much improved defense. Smith has looked good in pre-season, while Niittymaki has some good experience with the Flyers and can get hot for prolonged stretches. I would imagine the competition between the two should be good for everyone, and provide a high level of confidence to the team as a whole.

Former Spokane Chief Dustin Tokarski was sent down to Norfolk, and will be the likely candidate should a call-up situation arise. Riku Helenius is also available, but reports indicate Tokarski out played the Finn in training camp.

Like the rest of the team, the goalie situation is looking much better, and the possibility of a playoff berth is not out of the question should these two goalies be able to at least adequately hold the fort.

The Predictions:

There is no doubt that this is a much improved team, at least on paper. Having seen them once live, their power play looks lethal, they can move the puck and the big guns look motivated. I would put their ceiling as somewhere between 7th and 8th in the East. I don’t think they knock off either Carolina or Washington, but I bet they leapfrog both Florida and Atlanta. I would anticipate that they would need about 89 points to accomplish this feat.

As a floor, if the wheels come off and the injury bugs sets in, I would place this team no farther down the standings than 11th. They simply have too much depth up front to free-fall. The wild-card is the Olympics. With many Lightning players either on a team or on a bubble, how they perform before and after is going to have a huge impact. Should be fun to watch either way.

Having only seen the Oilers on a web feed so far this pre-season, I was excited to see them live in action. They easily fulfilled the “live” part, but the “action” was pretty sparse. Despite erasing a 2-0 deficit and holding a lead for about a period, the Oilers effort last night left me a little cold.

The first period was by far the worst, with several defensive miscues and about 9 forwards who seem to think they are irreplaceable in the lineup. The first Lightning goal featured a defensive breakdown of epic proportions, as Ryan Malone was all alone in front to tuck in a rebound. The Oilers penalty kill let them down on goal #2, as Martin St. Louis wired an Alex Tanguay feed to increase the deficit to 2-0.

The Oilers clawed back with a nice power play goal by Robert Nilsson, who is making a strong case to stay on the team. Andrew Cogliano converted a partial breakaway to make it 2-2 after being sent in on a stretch pass by Denis Grebeskov. Tom Gilbert buried the third goal on a wrist shot from the high slot after a nifty feed from Gilbert Brule, who picked a covvenient time to show up.

Holding the lead until the wee moments of the game, the Oilers passed up several chances to put the Lightning away on the powerplay, and the 5 on 5 play was mediocre at best, with only Ryan Stone and Robert Nilsson putting in consistent efforts. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, who was a little shaky on the St. Louis goal, effectively barred the door for most of the 2nd and 3rd, twice stoning Steven Stamkos from close range.

While I will comment on the power-play in a separate post, the Oilers penalty kill is worthy of a quick mention. While the penalty killers (Brule, Stone, Moreau, Reddox and even Penner) were not terrible, they had no answer for the puck possession and quick puck movement of the Lightning forwards. Furthermore, the Oilers continued difficulty in the faceoff circle would haunt them, as an ill-timed Steve Staios penalty in the offensive zone with 10 seconds to play in OT gave the Lightning the win. A quick face off win by the Bolts, followed by a heads up pass to St. Louis for a slap shot that he simply blew by Deslauriers ended the Oilers night.

The lines and pairings broke down as follows:

Cogliano-Gagner-Nilsson- Easily the best trio of the night. Ethan Moreau started out with this unit, but was very lacklustre and was soon replaced with Robert Nilsson, who had all kinds of jump. They provided most of the offense and clearly like playing with each other. They could use a little more size on the PP, but they move the puck well and Cogliano looks better on the wing.

Penner-Schremp-Eberle- All of them did some things individually and Penner played well in 4 on 4 situations with Brule. Schremp is trying way too hard and is a little snake bit. Eberle is talented but needs a little seasoning, and Penner needs Horcoff and Hemsky.

Moreau-Brule-Stone- The second best unit on the night, for my money. Moreau was mostly invisible save for one shot he rang off the iron. Stone was the best of this trio, and plays a rough and tumble game with some offensive upside. He hits a lot and that is skill that is rare on this roster. Brule showed some flashes, but also disappeared for stretches at a time. He did have a real nice pass to Gilbert for the 3rd goal.

MacIntyre-Stortini-Reddox- The 4th line bunch didn’t see the ice much, but they competed every shift. Reddox skates miles covering for MacIntyre, who often put himself out of position trying to kill someone. Stortini did ok in spot duty at centre, and was a bit of an agitator. Reddox also saw duty on the PK, where he did quite well.

Visnovsky-Smid- The de facto first pairing, they played a pretty decent game, save for their miscue on the first goal. Smid is developing into a pretty good shut down guy, and opposing players don’t get much when he is out there. Visnovsky was his usual smooth self, and really needed some help on the PP. The only one with a clue out there.

Chorney-Gilbert- The two former collegians played pretty well together, and Gilbert is showing an increased offensive acumen. As a former Chorney fan, and recent Chorney detractor, I was very pleased with his game. He is staying within his comfort zone and is thriving as a result. Skates well and making nice passes, he also did well on the PP. I have no problem with him as the 7th defender.

Grebeshkov-Staios- Steady Steve played a solid game and was pretty physical for an exhibition game. I still like how Grebeshkov plays, but he was really fighting the puck last night, which cost the Oilers a lot of precious time on the power play.

Deslauriers- I really have no idea about goalies, but found his performance adequate. He was suspect on the two St. Louis goals, which were stoppable in my opinion. The 3rd lightning goal was redirected, and the first one he could have used some defensive help. That said, he made up for these possible miscues with several big time saves. Looks like he wants the backup job in the worst way.

First off, I have to say that I am thankful that the Lightning dressed basically their entire regular season roster for the game.  In the lineup for Tampa Bay was Vincent Lecavalier, Alex Tanguay, Martin St. Louis, Steve Stamkos, Victor Hedman and every other significant Bolt you can think of.

Here are my thoughts on the Bolts’ forwards from last night’s contest:

• Martin St. Louis is the heart and soul of this team.  He never stops working, is always in the right position, is smart with the puck and makes everyone around him look better.  He is, in my opinion, a shoe-in for Team Canada.  In fact, when asked about St. Louis last night, Tocchet touched on how lucky Team Canada will be to have him in Vancouver.
• Playing center for St. Louis the majority of the game was Steven Stamkos.  Stamkos makes the game look easy with his fluid stick-handling and lethal shot.  It looks like his confidence has carried over from the second half of last season, just by the way he carries himself, both on and off the ice.
• Logging minutes with the aforementioned two stars was Ryan Malone.  First, I have to say how impressed I was with Malone’s willingness to compete and stir it up in an exhibition game.  He was intense from the outset and went to the net hard at almost every opportunity.  His presence was a nice complement with Stamkos and St. Louis.
• The “second” line on the Bolts was centered by Vincent Lecavalier.  He looks healthy, as compared to last season, and seemed visibly excited about the real games beginning.  Additionally, he has demonstrated some nice chemistry with Alex Tanguay and that secondary scoring should be a big boost for the Bolts.  “He’s a great player, great guy and I’m happy to have him,” said Lecavalier when I asked him about Tanguay’s addition to his left side.
• Speaking of Tanguay, he looked quite comfortable on Lecavalier’s left side last night.  “I can’t believe he was still available,” Lecavalier told me after last night’s game in reference to the Bolts being able to sign the former Hab late in the summer.  Tanguay’s addition now gives the Bolts two solid scoring lines for other teams to watch out for.  “He brings a lot of depth to the team,” explained Lecavalier.
• Playing alongside Lecavalier and Tanguay for a significant portion of last night’s game was Steve Downie.  Downie, as most people know, is a known head-hunter.  He certainly brings an energy to the table and can handle the puck a bit, but he needs to cut down on his racing around the ice for the big hit because it takes him out of position.
• Of the Bolts’ depth forwards, one player stood out to me and that was Brett McLean.  He was by far and away the most energetic player on the ice and sure looked hungry to make the team.  To me, he stood out more than any of the team’s other depth forwards–well, maybe aside from Todd Fedoruk’s monster hit on Tom Gilbert.

Here are my thoughts on the Bolts’ defensemen from last night’s contest:

• Victor Hedman has the poise of a ten-year veteran.  The 18 year old Swedish defenseman has a Pronger-esque presence on the ice and is confident in his decisions.  Coach Tocchett seems to be awfully impressed with the youngster (he discussed his ability to play both the left and right defense spots last night), although in his post-game interview he did stress that Hedman has to cut down on his risky cross-ice passes.
• Hedman’s partner Kurtis Foster was a great pick up by GM Brian Lawton.  He is not the fleetest of foot, but he possesses a lethal shot from the point (the main reason why he quarterbacks the power play) and makes generally smart decisions around the ice. 
• Andrej Meszaros has the talent to be a far better defenseman than he is.  He can skate, shoot and pass but lacks consistency.  He seems focused for a few minutes then makes a terrible decision or two under no real pressure from the opposition.
• Meszaros’s partner last night was Mattias Ohlund.  I will admit, I did not like the Ohlund signing in the summer (although most did) and I still don’t like it.  Ohlund has lost a step in my opinion and his speed, or lack thereof, may be a big trouble point for the Bolts during the season–as they try and ease in Hedman with second pair minutes.
• Playing the left side on the team’s third pairing was Lukas Krajicek.  Krajicek is a good skater and makes some nice outlet passes but does not bring too much else to the table.  I don’t seem him playing any significant minutes this season and he will probably find himself on the outside looking in more often than not.
• Rounding out the team’s defense was off-season acquisition Matt Walker who plays a rough and tough game and brings a nice physical edge to the blue line.  He isn’t as skilled as most of his teammates but he works hard and provides some much-needed toughness.

Here are my thoughts on the Bolts’ goaltending from last night’s contest:

• Mike Smith is a very athletic and solid netminder.  He positions himself well and does not appear to mind a big workload.  I asked Coach Tocchet about Smith’s willingness to play the puck even after last year’s concussion issues and he seemed happy that Smith did not seem to have concussion issues on his mind but hinted that he’d prefer Smith be a little more judicious when it comes to his puck-playing decisions.

Here are my thoughts on the Bolts’ coaching from last night’s contest:

• Considering this team has been on the longest exhibition road trip known to man, I was thoroughly impressed by the team’s work ethic all night.  These guys seem to like Tocchet and were playing hard for him.  There was also a bigger commitment to defense last night than I saw many times last season.  So, it looks like Tocchet has these guys moving in the right direction.

Here is an excerpt:

After a fairly disastrous 2008-09 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning can only move forward. For a team whose expectations were high prior to last season, a 14th place Eastern Conference finish, and a 29th overall finish in the NHL standings left much to be desired.

Over the summer, the Lightning did not make as many moves as it did last offseason, however, the moves the team did make were shrewder than last summer.

Moving forward, the Bolts have a 0.3% chance of winning the Stanley Cup (Puck Prospectus Rating) but there is certainly room to improve on a tumultuous first season under new ownership.

Read the entire preview here.

NHL

• The Thrashers have signed Nikolai Antropov to a 4 year, $16 million contract.  As well, the team also re-signed Chris Thorburn.  A lot of cash to be throwing at Antropov but really not out of line with the ridiculous spending we’ve already seen the past day and a half.  Antropov gets a lock of criticism but he can be a 25 goal scorer and 60 point player in Atlanta. 
• Mark Recchi has re-signed in Boston for 1 year, $1 million.  Good signing for both sides.  It is reasonable and gives Recchi another shot at the Cup.
• The Flames have signed Riley Armstrong and Garth Murray.  Murray is a plugger who will help to fill out the two-way roster.  Armstrong is also a depth player but he has a bit more scoring touch.
• James Gordon of the Ottawa Citizen asks why the Oilers would even want Dany Heatley?  Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Team Canada

• As Neil mentioned early today, Marc Savard has not been invited by Hockey Canada to the team’s training camp in August.   I like Marc Savard as a player but his representation of Canada has not exactly been exemplary.  Additionally, would he slot in ahead of Crosby, Getzlaf, Richards, Lecavalier or Staal on your team?  It is arguable, but I don’t think he would.
• The Hurricanes will be represented at Team Canada’s camp with Eric Staal and Cam Ward in attendance.  Both worthy invites.
• Ryan Smyth and Joe Sakic have been invited from Colorado.  The question is, will Joe Sakic be playing hockey next season?
• Rick Nash and Steve Mason have been invited from Columbus.  As I said yesterday, Nash’s value will sky-rocket after the Olympics, so Columbus better get him signed before.
• Brenden Morrow and Stephane Robidas have been invited from Dallas.  As Heika says, a big boost in confidence for Robidas.
• The injured Brent Burns has been invited from Minnesota.  If healthy, I think he has a real shot but concussions are tricky to deal with.
• Mike Green was the only Capitals player invited.  He better shore up his defense if he wants to be in Vancouver for the tournament.
• No Steve Stamkos invite from Team Canada.  Still too young and too many good centers ahead of him.  He’ll gets his chance down the road.

• Luke Decock of the News & Observer thinks Tuomo Ruutu will play on Thursday but Erik Cole will not.  His offensive numbers haven’t been strong this playoffs, but Cole’s loss is still very significant.
• Tim Sassone says the Hawks may very well learn more from losing their current series against Detroit than they did beating either Calgary or Vancouver.  If the Hawks have a chance in this series, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook will have to play ten times better than they did on Sunday.
• People who see Pavel Datsyuk as only a goal-scorer are missing the big picture.  Agreed.  This guy is about as good an all-around player as there is in the game today.
• Maybe Miroslav Satan’s playoff performance shouldn’t be surprising people as much as it is.  Interesting piece.

Teams that are not in the playoffs:

• In Anaheim, Chris Pronger knows it is possible he could be moved this summer.  It will be decision time for Bob Murray this summer.  On one hand, he could choose to ride out Pronger’s remaining year and go for a Cup run.  On the other hand, he could trade Pronger while he still has a year left on his deal before possibly losing him for nothing.  Should be an interesting summer in SoCal.
• It seems like Manny Fernandez is seriously considering retirement.  If you’ve been reading his comments all season long, retirement kind of seems likely at this point.
• In other Boston news, Claude Julien has won Sporting News Coach of the Year.  They may have lost out in the second round, but few predicted so much success for Boston this season and that’s a testament to the job Julien did.
• Erik Erlendsson gained a lot of respect for Mark Recchi this season.  He’s a veteran leader for sure.

• As much as San Jose didn’t bring their “A” game last night, the Ducks most certainly did.  Just a great performance by the veteran group.
• Sergei Samsonov’s status for Game 6 has not yet been decided.  They could use him in Game 6, but I don’t see it being the determining factor.
• More reaction to the penalty call late in the Jackets/Wings game.  Straight up, that was a penalty.  It really wasn’t close Jackets fans.
• Both Jamie Langenbrunner and Bryce Salvador are questionable for Game 6.  With a Game 7 back home, I don’t see the Devils pushing it here if it is too close to call.
• Have trade deadline acquisitions paid off in the playoffs?  Great piece.
• An interesting interview with John Davidson.  We miss JD in the booth, but he has done a tremendous job turning that organization around.
• Taylor Pyatt has returned to the Canucks and issued a statement.  Hockey has to be the last thing on Pyatt’s mind.
• It is going to be a wild one tonight at the Verizon Center.  Desperation will definitely kick in tonight for the Caps.

Plus, some other NHL stories from around the league:

• Eric Duhatschek thinks Bob Gainey has probably closed the window on Vincent Lecavalier if he publicly called out Brian Lawton yesteday.  Great point by Duhatschek.  He mentions Briere as a possible trade candidate for Montreal.
• Elliotte Friedman isn’t convinced the Lecavalier to Montreal window has closed.  Tampa is desperate to get rid of salary, so that point is well-taken.
• Could Pierre McGuire end up being the next Wild GM?  Would be an interesting choice, as there are few who know as much about the game as McGuire.
• Rogers and TSN2 may finally be close to an agreement for GTA customers.  Stupid situation from the outset.
• Sharks fans just wanted to see some passion from their favorite team last night, but they didn’t get it.  Just an awful performance from San Jose.  They brought nothing to the table.
• Chris Higgins has been added to the U.S. squad for the World Championships.  I’m sure he’s trying to end his season on anything but the sour note that was the Habs’ “playoff run”.
• Damien Cox on video talking about the possibility of two NHL teams in Toronto.  Again, this makes too much sense for the league.  Whether there is ever any progress on this matter is another story.

• As linked on IC yesterday, apparently Jay Feaster has an interest in the Colorado GM job.
• Mike Heika wonders whether the Stars franchise will continue to move forward with a two-GM arrangement?
• The Oilers fired Craig MacTavish on Wednesday and Robert Tychkowski is calling the franchise a mess right now.  Many changes are on the way.  Derek Van Diest has the reaction from Steve Tambellini’s press conference.  Decisions have yet to be made on the team’s assistant coaches.  Don’t expect MacT to be out of a job for long.
• Here is a post-season chat Michael Russo had with Wild fans about the team’s disappointing season.
• More layoffs from Lightning ownership on Wednesday.
• Brian Burke is already burning up the phones lines trying to move up in the draft, writes Paul Hunter.

• Andrew Ebbett has quietly been very productive for the Ducks since being called up from the AHL, writes Billy Witz.
• A number of the Thrashers players are heading to the World Championships.
• Add Chuck Kobasew to the list of Bruins players that are injured, explains Kevin Paul Dupont.  Even though Boston has clinched first place in the conference, they will be geared up to face the Habs tonight.
• With yesterday’s victory at Toronto, the Sabres stayed alive in the playoff race.  Sure they stayed alive, but after reading Bucky Gleason’s article this morning, you will realize they have no chance of getting in.  At least the future looks bright, as Sabres prospect Nathan Gerbe has won AHL rookie of the year.
• The Flames are aiming to ‘get that swagger back’.   Eric Francis tells us the Flames are banking on the return of Rene Bourque and maybe even Rhett Warrener, with all the injuries they have sustained.  It is clear from listening to the Flames players that their goal is the Stanley Cup or bust.  Calgary has had its cap issues, but if you are wondering, no team can go over the cap.
• Little known Chad LaRose has been a bargain of an impact player for the Hurricanes. 
• The Blue Jackets denied the Hawks‘ bid to clinch the fourth spot in the Western Conference.  With the Hawks leading more games, Adam Burish has been involved in less fights. 
• Peter Budaj may be having a difficult season numbers wise, but his attitude is certainly respected in the room.
• “I don’t know if it has quite sunk in yet,”, said Rick Nash after his team clinched the first ever playoff spot in team history.  The fans are just as excited as the players are about the team’s first ever playoff birth.  Meanwhile, coach Hitchcock wants  Jiri Novotny to continue to play hard.
• The Stars must take a hard look at themselves.  J.J. Taylor guaranetees Mike Modano‘s return to Dallas next season.  Learn more about Stars rookie Ivan Vishnevskiy here.
• In Detroit, the Wings are expecting Andreas Lilja to miss the start of the playoffs.  If we are talking matchups, it appears the Wings are hoping to duck Anaheim.  In contract news, the Wings have tabled an offer to Johan Franzen.
• Disappointment was the catch phrase around Rexall Place on Wednesday.  With the Oilers out of playoff contention, Dwayne Roloson is finally going to get some rest.  Sam Gagner is taking the Oilers’ struggling finish to heart.  At least they can bring over Linus Omark….maybe not.
• Florida Panthers coach Pete DeBoer said he is going to make his decision on whether he starts Vokoun or Anderson today.
• In Los Angeles, Kings owner Phil Anschutz should take the Kings’ fate personally.
• Concussions have been an issue in the Wild room this season and a serious one continues to keep a frustrated Brett Burns off the ice.  The youngsters’ struggles in Minnesota may be the reason the Wild is probably going to miss the playoffs.
• Bob Gainey is searching for a winning lineup in Montreal.  Tough economy or not, there are many suitors who are aiming to purchase the Habs franchise. 
• Consecutive wins may not be enough for the Predators to make post-season play.  At least Nashville is not intimidated by Detroit, their matchup tonight.  David Legwand’s hopes of returning for the team’s final two regular season games was taken away when doctors told him his injury is still too fresh.
• The up-and-down Devils can clinch the Atlantic Division title tonight.  Martin Brodeur admits that it is tough getting in a groove when you’ve missed most of the season.
• Bill Guerin has been grateful for the opportunity to move from the Island to Pittsburgh where he has a chance to compete for the Cup.
• If the Rangers defeat the Flyers tonight, they make the playoffs.  The Rangers know they control their own destiny.
• The Senators players were happy for coach Cory Clouston on Wednesday, as he was allowed to smile upon signing a two-year contract extension.  Is Alex Auld going to stick around with Clouston?
• Flyers coach John Stevens gives you his take on a possible matchup with Carolina.  Daniel Carcillo is moving in the right direction.  Former Flyers center Keith Primeau is doing his best to help further concussion research.
• Petr Prucha has been excited about getting more ice-time in the desert as compared to NY.
• Next goal for the Penguins: Some rest, tuning up for playoffs.  Should the Pens have locked up Sid and Geno longer?  Ruslan Fedotenko has really found his game as of late.
• Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe are expected to return to the Sharks lineup tonight.  Ray Rotto lays down the gauntlet for the Sharks, saying it is Cup or bust.
• Injury prone defenseman Jay McKee‘s turnaround has really given the Blues a boost.  The Blues are close to throwing a big party, writes Bernie Miklasz.
• The Lightning organization is not any more stable than it was last summer.  Martin St. Louis is a great team guy.
• Cujo, May record milestones, as Leafs fall 3-1 to Sabres.  One Leafs milestone was celebratory, one wasn’t, writes Lance Hornby.  Could the Marlies be getting help from the Leafs for the AHL playoffs?
• In Vancouver, the Canucks are getting back to basics.  The Canucks have to ensure they don’t have a letdown against the Kings, with the division yet to be wrapped up.
• Caps’ Rookie Goaltender Simeon Varlamov wins confidence From Boudreau.  The Capitals have some nice organizational depth between the pipes.
• Lastly, here is an update on injured hockey player, Derek Zike from the NAHL, who appears to be recovering well.

**The IllegalCurve.com Radio Show archives of yesterday’s show with Dan Wood of the OC Register and Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail should be posted on the website early this afternoon**

**Also, special thanks to David who gave a nice helping hand for the morning papers**

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	New Jersey	3					Montreal	6
	Buffalo	2					Toronto	2
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
In Lou We Trust  Die by the Blade						Habs In/Out  Pension Plan Puppets
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL SO		T				FINAL		T
	Philadelphia	3					Tampa Bay	1
	Ottawa	4					NY Islanders	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Broad Street Hockey  Silver Seven						Raw Charge  Lighthouse Hockey
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL OT		T				FINAL SO		T
	Pittsburgh	2					Columbus	4
	Carolina	3					Nashville	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
PensBurgh  Canes Country						Light the Lamp  On the Forecheck
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL OT		T				FINAL		T
	St. Louis	4					Vancouver	3
	Dallas	5					Edmonton	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
St. Louis Game Time  Defending Big D						Nucks Misconduct  Lowetide
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Anaheim	5					Phoenix	1
	San Jose	2					Los Angeles	6
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Battle of California  Fear the Fin						Five for Howling  Battle of California
Game Recap						Game Recap

Congrats go out to the Michigan State Spartans who make the National Championship Game.   Go State!

FINAL		T
	Michigan State	82
	U Connecticut	73
Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:
Game Recap

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier will undergo surgery to repair damage to his right wrist on Friday.

The procedure was originally scheduled to take place last summer but was delayed after Lecavalier suffered damage to his right shoulder during the Lightning’s second-to-last game of the season.

”Obviously it is disappointing that Vinny will not be able to finish the season, but we feel that it is in both his and the team’s best interest to have the wrist operated on now,” said Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton. ”Vinny has been battling this injury all season and I really can’t say enough about his ability to play through the pain and discomfort.”

Read the entire story here.

Lecavalier is being spared the last few games of a mess-of-a-season in Tampa Bay.  The biggest question in my mind is whether Lecavalier has played his last game in Tampa?  To be honest, I think he has.  The economy is slipping and I can see the Tampa owners trading out of that long-term, big money deal this summer. 

In other news, the Lightning have traded Lecavalier’s surgeon…

• Are the Canadiens forging a new identity?
• Too much fixation on a non-issue for the Rangers?
• Hejduk wants to play (for Avs) beyond current contract.

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Tampa Bay	3					Toronto	3
	Washington	5					Buffalo	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Raw Charge Japers’ Rink						Pension Plan Puppets Die by the Blade
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL OT		T
	NY Islanders	2					New Jersey	2
	Detroit	0					Chicago	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Lighthouse Hockey Winging it in Mowtown						In Lou We Trust Second City Hockey
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Vancouver	4					Edmonton	5
	Colorado	1					Anaheim	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Nucks Misconduct Mile High Hockey						Lowetide Battle of California
Game Recap						Game Recap

• Apparently Florida fans are happy to see the Kostitsyns reunited.  Now those are twins!!
• Marty Turco is unhappy with his level of play.
• An interesting hockey innovation, Marsh Pegs.  I did not know that.
• Canes beat writer is back on the road.
• Should he stay or should he go?  That is the question many are asking about Darcy Regier.
• Marc-Andre Fleury is a shutout freak, on March 25th.

FINAL		T				FINAL SO		T
	Florida	4					NY Rangers	4
	Philadelphia	2					Atlanta	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
The Litter Box Broad Street Hockey						Blueshirt Banter Bird Watchers Anonymous
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL OT		T
	Calgary	0					Tampa Bay	2
	Columbus	5					Montreal	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Matchsticks and Gasoline Light the Lamp						Raw Charge  Eyes on the Prize
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	San Jose	2					Vancouver	2
	Nashville	3					St. Louis	4
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Fear the Fin On the Forecheck						Nucks Misconduct  St. Louis Game Time
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL SO		T				FINAL		T
	Los Angeles	1					Edmonton	2
	Dallas	0					Phoenix	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Battle of California Defending Big D						Lowetide Five for Howling
Game Recap						Game Recap

• Blackhawks Eager suspended for three games.
• Caps coach: Ovechkin celebration won’t happen again.
• Brad Richards breaks hand in return.
• Rangers chemistry far from uns-avery.
• Betteman: Ban on fighting ‘not going to happen’.
• No. 1 pick is not Isles priority.
• Elias clears many hurdles to set Devs’ scorig marks.
• Former NHL player Walt Poddubny dies. 
• Jagr confirms Oilers rumors, says he won’t terminate contract.
• Kudos to The Litter Box for bringing us this hockey fan.
• Players react to Ovechkin’s 50th goal celebration.

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Dallas	2					Toronto	5
	San Jose	5					Montreal	2
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Defending Big D Battle of California						Pension Plan Puppets Habs Inside/Out
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	NY Islanders	2					Buffalo	3
	Ottawa	5					NY Rangers	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Lighthouse Hockey  Black Aces						Die by the Blade Blueshirt Banter
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Washington	1					Columbus	3
	Carolina	4					Florida	1
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Canes Country Japers Rink						Light the Lamp The Litter Box
Game Recap						Game Recap

FINAL SO		T				FINAL		T
	Atlanta	4					Vancouver	1
	Tampa Bay	3					Phoenix	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Threads:						Game Threads:
Bird Watchers Anonymous Raw Charge						Nucks Misconduct Five for Howling
Game Recap						Game Recap

• The bounces seem to finally be falling the Ducks’ way, so don’t count them out quite yet.  This team has been a bit of an enigma this season, so I’m not sure if they’d strike fear into the first or second seed if they indeed got into the playoffs.  That said, they still have Getzlaf, Perry, Selanne, Ryan, Niedermayer and Pronger, so I’m sure those top teams would rather play some other team.
• Claude Julien will 100% not be fired by the Bruins.  Why was this question even asked?  Is that what it has come to with coaches these days?  C’mon.  This team has over-achieved all season and is sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.  Absurd.
• Adrian Dater says last night’s performance versus Edmonton was an atrocity.  When beat guys flat out say it is the worst performance they’ve ever seen, you certainly have to take their word for it.  Dater, as he says in the post, has seen a lot of Avalanche games over the years, if last night’s game was truly as bad as he says (I didn’t catch the game) then heads could roll in the Rocky Mountains.
• Denis Gauthier was injured last night for the Kings.  No word yet on whether he kneed himself.
• No Colin White for the Devils tonight.  No reason to rush it with the playoffs just around the corner.
• James Gordon of the Ottawa Citizen wonders whether Sens fans believe in miracles?  Daunting task, but it isn’t like the teams in front of them are lighting the world on fire.
• Seth Rorabaugh previews all things Kings for Penguins fans.  Desperate bunch they are facing tonight in Pittsburgh.
• Bruce Boudreau had a talk with Alexander Ovechkin following last night’s goal celebration with you can find here.  Let’s just say, don’t expect a similar celebration any time soon.  Personally, I don’t like Ovechkin’s celebrations, as he think he goes over-the-top just about every time; however, I generally don’t really have a problem with his celebrations because he does seem to be genuine in his excitement.  That said, last night’s celebration was unnecessary and lacked class.  I’ll just say this–Wayne Gretzky scored 894 career NHL goals, and he didn’t have any celebrations like that.  Learn from the best.

• Ovechkin gets goal #50.
• Canucks trying to avoid twin distractions.
• Surging Penguins seek to clock Kings.

FINAL OT		T				FINAL		T
	Los Angeles	3					Montreal	4
	Boston	2					Ottawa	5
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Recaps:						Game Recaps:
Inside the Kings Stanley Cup of Chowder						Habs Inside/Out Black Aces

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Washington	5					Toronto	1
	Tampa Bay	2					Florida	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Recaps:						Game Recaps:
Japer’s Rink Raw Charge						Pension Plan Puppets  Litter Box Cats

FINAL		T				FINAL		T
	Edmonton	8					St. Louis	0
	Colorado	1					Vancouver	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Recaps:						Game Recaps:
Cult of Hockey Mile High Hockey						St. Louis Game Time Nucks Misconduct

FINAL OT		T				FINAL SO		T
	Anaheim	3					Nashville	2
	Phoenix	2					San Jose	3
Game Scoresheet						Game Scoresheet
Game Recaps:						Game Recaps:
Ducks Blog Five for Howling						Tennessean Mercury News

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed two-time All-Star Miroslav Satan on waivers. The 34-year old has been a disappointment in his first year in Pittsburgh after signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Pens this past offseason. The veteran sniper has 17 goals and 19 assists in 64 games this season. The Pens hoped he would be a good fit on the wing with Sidney Crosby, but the two never really clicked as linemates.

Not finished yet…

Also, the Ducks placed Brendan Morrison on waivers. The 33-year-old has 10 goals and 12 assists in 61 games with the Ducks. 

Morrison’s situation differs from Satan’s, in the sense that the Ducks need the space under the salary cap for players returning from injury following the deadline.

There’s more…

Veteran forward Gary Roberts was also placed on waivers after only 30 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Several teams are reportedly interested in the 42-year-old, including Calgary where Roberts first played and captured the Stanley Cup in 1989.

Finally…

The Ottawa Senators once again placed goaltender Martin Gerber on waivers to see if there are any takers for the Swiss netminder. Gerber has been playing with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL for the past few weeks.

The Sens also placed defenceman Brenden Bell on waivers.

A few more players were waived, so you can read the rest here.

These names might look all flashy to some NHL fans but, the fact is, most of these players won’t be touched.  Satan hasn’t done anything this season to warrant his contract, same for Morrison.  Gerber has struggled in Ottawa and Bell lacks the necessary defensive skills to crack the top-six of a playoff team.  I expect Roberts to get picked up but he will see at most–fourth line ice time on a contender.

Andrew Brunette’s ironman streak ends at 509.  He last missed a game Dec. 31, 2001, because of a shoulder contusion.

FINAL		1	2	3	T	SOG	GOALIES
	Pittsburgh	1	1	0	2	33	M. Garon, M. Fleury
	Washington	2	3	0	5	34	J. Theodore
GOAL SCORERS:
PIT:  Talbot, M. (12:08 in 1st), Gonchar, S. (PPG, 04:46 in 2nd)
WSH:  Ovechkin, A. (PPG, 06:53 in 1st), Semin, A. (PPG, 13:02 in 1st), Fedorov, S. (00:56 in 2nd), Morrisonn, S. (12:56 in 2nd), Laich, B. (13:21 in 2nd)
Attendance: 18,277

FINAL		1	2	3	T	SOG	GOALIES
	Colorado	1	1	0	2	19	A. Raycroft
	Carolina	1	2	2	5	39	C. Ward
GOAL SCORERS:
COL:  Wolski, W. (00:59 in 1st), Tucker, D. (02:12 in 2nd)
CAR:  Cullen, M. (07:00 in 1st), Cullen, M. (01:19 in 2nd), Pitkanen, J. (17:06 in 2nd), Bayda, R. (08:49 in 3rd), Cullen, M. (19:28 in 3rd)
Attendance: 18,680

FINAL		1	2	3	T	SOG	GOALIES
	Boston	2	1	0	3	43	M. Fernandez
	Tampa Bay	2	1	1	4	18	K. Ramo
GOAL SCORERS:
BOS:  Kessel, P. (01:38 in 1st), Ference, A. (PPG, 16:42 in 1st), Chara, Z. (15:17 in 2nd)
TBL:  Halpern, J. (04:44 in 1st), Hall, A. (04:59 in 1st), Recchi, M. (10:00 in 2nd), Prospal, V. (PPG, 18:27 in 3rd)
Attendance: 18,454

FINAL		1	2	3	T	SOG	GOALIES
	Minnesota	0	1	1	2	24	J. Harding
	Chicago	0	1	0	1	45	C. Huet
GOAL SCORERS:
MIN:  Fritsche, D. (PPG, 12:48 in 2nd), Olvecky, P. (03:30 in 3rd)
CHI:  Toews, J. (10:03 in 2nd)
Attendance: 22,443

FINAL OT		1	2	3	OT	T	SOG	GOALIES
	Toronto	0	0	2	1	3	26	V.Toskala
	NY Rangers	0	0	2	0	2	41	H. Lundqvist
GOAL SCORERS:
TOR:  Mitchell, J. (03:54 in 3rd), White, I. (06:18 in 3rd), Hagman, N. (PPG, 03:00 in OT)
NYR:  Gomez, S. (05:53 in 3rd), Rozsival, M. (19:20 in 3rd)
Attendance: 18,200